Hello
I’m Lisa, founder of The Bright Bittern, and trusted partner to business owners and professionals who want to work with more efficiency and confidence. With nearly 30 years of experience across business operations, finance, HR, and compliance, I’ve supported high-growth SMEs, professional practices, corporates, government departments, and high-net-worth individuals. My career has spanned boardrooms and back offices, strategy sessions and daily office administration, and I’ve learned that great support is never just about ticking boxes, it’s about understanding bandwidth, nuance, and the unique pulse of a business.​
My Story
After more than a decade as Operations Manager and PA to a managing partner at a corporate accountancy firm in London, I built and managed a successful small business, employing staff and earning an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ grading along the way. Fast forward a few years of running a business and raising a family, I returned to working in professional offices with directors, partners and senior leaders in roles that demanded versatility, discretion, and a knack for spinning plates across multiple disciplines.​
Throughout my career, I have carried out multi-faceted roles with job titles such as business manager, finance and operations manager/director. Although business workflows and operational processes have been my mainstay, behind the scenes I have managed offices, secured compliance accreditations, managed third parties, and clients while quietly overseeing the smaller details that keep businesses running smoothly. I have gained insight into industries such as professional services, risk management consultancy, the offshore sector, property management and public sector in central government. Jack Of All Trades? Not quite. I thrive in dynamic environments and have been fortunate to be offered opportunities that allowed me to evolve roles, drawing on my ability to understand how businesses operate and contribute a solution‑focused, strategic mindset.
I am AAT fully qualified and currently studying for a BSc in Psychology...
​With a background in accountancy yet a focus on occupational psychology and neurodiversity, my work is informed by an interest in organisational culture and human behaviour.​ I also hold qualifications in Early Years, Counselling Skills, and Children & Young People’s Mental Health, which are continually useful given that empathy and operations do not belong at opposite ends of the office!
So, what have I learned, and how can I help you...?
One thing stands out; support must serve your mission and not complicate it. Whether we work together regularly or occasionally, we’ll bring structure and clarity to help you move forward with intention.​
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Pretty-cool​​ recent project:​
​​​I recently had a key role in the restoration of a dilapidated large Grade II listed Suffolk barn, transforming it from a ruin into multiple high-end holiday properties. From planning and heritage constraints to ecology, construction staff, admin, and financials, not to mention the builders going into administration at the start of the project. It was full-on and a steep learning curve, but the finished result - seriously dreamy and fully booked holiday lets...